The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-19
Seneca the Serene.
Seneca is pretty little village Of al

storm swept "canawl, In the eastern por
ton of this blooming county. Ii lies serene
and peaceful between the high bluffs, which
surrounding it on the north, northwest and
south, form an insurmountable barrier, alike
to the bowling blizzard Of winter and the
hot searching winds Of the south. These
bluffs hold many tale Of bygone years
which will bear unfolding, and their wooded
crests guard their secrets well. There IS
however, one story, which they have allowed
TO escape their remorseless grasp; the pre-
historic, but never aged, tale Of an Indian
maiden and her dusky lover, who plighted
their truth near an ancient oak, which stood
on the north brow of the south hill, and
we're foully murdered by remorseless rival,
said remorsless rival afterward suffering
death at the stake. But then what western
hamlet in devoid of its Indian story and
well-perhaps it won't do to dispute the
word of the "oldest citizen of Seneca.
There is one spot on the lovely bluffs that
has a fascination for the lover of true senti-
ment, marked by white marble shaft here
and there q square faced slab or fallen
stone there is no mistaking it: the village
cemetery. Unlike the cemetery of the great
city, Seneca's cemetery is at once place OF
historic interest as we'll as of sorrow to each
and every inhabitant; NEARLY every citizen has
q father, a mother, or someone dear, ~
ing beneath the calm unruffied sod. No
grave is neglected here, for the hand Of the
living is ever ready to keep green the grass
and scatter fragrant blossoms. Here, then,
meath the undulating green-sward, the sum
mer's fragrant bloom, and the winters cover
ing of snow, secure in their earth.bound
homes, lie those whose lips are sealed by the
everlasting stamp Of death, watching, as
it were, over the daily lives Of the breathing
while naught disturbs the silent hush of their
never ending watch.
Below, in the hustle Of active life, the on
ward march toward metropolitanism is
apparent everywhere. Business blocks, OF
solid brick and have reared themselves above
the razed or burned structures Of frame, that
once passed for stores. Emerging from the
ancient custom of keeping everything, from
q piano to hair. pin, under one roof, the
business men have inaugurated
an individuality. Among the thriving bus.
mess houses, Hon. Alexander Vaughey's
extensive dry goods and notion house, estab-
lished the year before the flood, vies with
the comparatively new house of Harvey
across the way. Walter Jones, an old Ottawa
boy, formerly behind Chas. Forbes counter,
has held away door or two north of Waugh.
ey, and is struggling with c. II. r. Thomas,
over the profits on patent medicine. 1t fact,
since the "Big Kickapoo Inguns," with their
free show and Wonderful Pain Killer y
struck town, Jones and Thomas have been
soft glove contest, to keep up
with the procession. Charles Vail is com
paratively new accession, he mends
watch in two minutes and is said to be a
heart breaker. Bilharz, the tony dry-goods
man, is also an old Ottawa business man,
and used to forish here twenty years ago.
Ellis & Robinson and G. A. Gerbert, the
agricultural implement men and A. II.
Wheeler, the grocer, are old landmarks too
md need no more introduction than the mole
on q mans nose.
As far as fine residences go, Seneca can
pride herself on being able 10 hold her end
above water. Most Of them are on the good,
old square substantial plan, and are there to
stay. Among the most striking in appear.
ance are those of N, j. Rulison, David New
port, F. NJ. Robinson, Walter Jones, j. W.
Ellis, Alex Vaughey, very recently finished),
D. J. Taylor, A. II. Wheeler and II. Bilharz.
Pretty girls-scores of them. When
Seneca does want to put on style she simply
allows her handsome maidens to promenade
down the main street and stand in front OF
RuIison's new bank. The effect Of that
galexy of beauty, outlined against the hand
some brick structure, would be enough to
cause Johnson to erect another mammoth
tile factory at Seneca at once, would he but
gaze thereon.
As the push and 60 Of the town indicate'
Senecans haven't time to grow aldermanic,
and long felt want, left vacant by Toby
Withrow's departure, is still open to anyone
who can tip the beam at Toby's standard.
Toby was terror on size, but as the scales
broke at 552 pounds, no really accurate reg
lister of his weight has been obtained. How
ever, Bob Berryhill, the genial manager OF
the Plat Coal Co., has envious distinction Of
being the lightest man in town, and is always
popular leap years.
The boss snake story artist Of the whole
burg, is the irrepresible Chris. Shasid, who
operates on cold beef and recently deceased
pork. Chris. was up to Kankakee not long
ago, and if his solemn oath passes for any
thing, the clean shave which he procured at
that interesting hamlet had grown into
- oh han I'll bat,ra ron chino Saneca TAX